Best of Georgia and Armenia - 10 days (CT-01)

Arrival in Tbilisi and check in to the hotel.

Today we start with Tbilisi city tour. We will also visit the Georgian National Museum and take a stroll along Rustaweli Avenue.

Visit Mtskheta - an ancient Georgian capital, UNESCO-listed Jvari Church, and the 11th century Svetitskhoveli Cathedral.  Drive via the ski resort of Gudauri to the stunning mountain landscapes of the Kazbegi region. There, we’ll take a jeep tour up to the 14th century Gergeti Trinity Church.

Today we will visit Stalin's birthplace, Gori. Then we will enjoy Uplistikhe Cave Town, located on the historic Great Silk Road. Next, we drive to Kutaisi to visit the Gelati Monastery and Academy Complex, a 12th century UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Today we begin at the 11th century Bagrati Cathedral before moving on to nearby Prometheus Cave. In the evening we drive back to Tbilisi for a gala dinner in a traditional Georgian restaurant to enjoy folk dancing and singing. Transfer to the railway station. Departure to Yerevan.

Arrival and transfer to the hotel. We will have a city tour of Yerevan. We will also visit the Matenadaran Library with its collection of manuscripts. Later, we’ll tour the brandy factory to explore the history of Armenian cognac. From Yerevan, we make an excursion to the centuries-old monuments of Ejmiatsin and Zvartnots.

After breakfast, we’ll take a trip to Khor Virap Monastery, which dates from the 4th century. Then we will continue the tour to Noravank, a 12th century monastery situated on a ledge within the sheer cliff face of a meandering gorge. Next, we drive to Goris to visit the Tatev Monastery by cable car.

Today, following breakfast, we’ll travel to Sevan via the Selim Pass stopping at Selim Caravanserai.

We’ll take a trip to Garni where we will walk along the canyon, past the beautiful columnar basalt 9th century stone bridge and explore the Pagan Temple. Next, we’ll head to Geghard Monastery and also pay a visit to a local house where you will participate in the preparation of the Armenian bread, lavash.

Departure, transfer to the airport.

Arrival in Tbilisi and check in to the hotel. (D)

On today’s programme is a comprehensive city tour encompassing the must see sights of the Georgian capital Tbilisi. Beginning in the Old Town we’ll pay a visit to the 13th century Methekhi Church before making our way to the 4th century Narikala Fortress. Our tour continues with a stop at the 6th century Antchiskhati Church, the 12th century Sioni Cathedral and also a historic synagogue. Finally we’ll pay a visit to the treasury at the Georgian National Museum and take a stroll along Rustaweli Avenue, one of Tbilisi’s most important streets. Overnight in Tbilisi. (B, D)

Leaving Tbilisi after breakfast, we head to Mtskheta, an ancient capital as well as an important religious centre.  We’ll tour the UNESCO-listed Jvari Church, which dates from the 6th century, and also the 11th century Svetitskhoveli Cathedral.  We’ll journey along the Georgian Military Highway, stopping for a tour of the Ananuri architectural complex. Then a drive via the ski resort of Gudauri takes us to the stunning mountain landscapes of the Kazbegi region. There, we’ll take an included jeep tour up to the 14th century Gergeti Trinity Church, perched at an altitude of 2,170 metres. Lastly, we’ll descend to Gudauri for an overnight stop. Overnight in Gudauri. (B, D)

The Russian leader stalin was actually born in Georgia and today we’ll visit his birthplace, Gori, where there’s a fascinating museum dedicated to his life.  There we’ll visit Uplistikhe Cave Town, located on the historic Great Silk Road. Next, we drive to Kutaisi, Georgia’s second largest city, in order to visit the Gelati Monastery and Academy Complex, a 12th century UNESCO World Heritage Site. Overnight in Kutaisi. (B, D)

For our final full day’s sightseeing, we begin at the 11th century Bagrati Cathedral before moving on to nearby Prometheus Cave. There, we’ll be impressed by its many stalactites and stalagmites. Towards the end of the day we drive back to Tbilisi for a gala dinner in a traditional Georgian restaurant, where we’ll sample local specialities and enjoy folk dancing and/or singing. In the evening our driver will transfer you to the railway station. where we will take an overnight train to Yerevan. (B, D)

Early arrival in Yerevan. Our driver will meet you at the train station and transfer to the hotel. After breakfast we will have a city tour of Yerevan, the capital of Armenia. Yerevan is one of the oldest cities in the world, 29 years older than Rome in fact. Our first stop will be the history museum and then we’ll move on to the remarkable Matenadaran Library. With its collection of 17,000 rare items, it is one of the world’s oldest repositories of Greek, Persian and Arabic manuscripts. Later, we’ll tour the brandy factory to explore the history of Armenian cognac and of course, taste a few. From Yerevan, we make an excursion to the centuries-old monuments of Ejmiatsin and Zvartnots, which are both listed on UNESCO World Heritage list. The Cathedral of Ejmiatsin, dating from 303AD, is still an official residence of Armenian Catholicos to this day. Our tour continues on to Zvartnots, the Temple of Vigil Forces or Heavenly Angels, constructed from the 7th century onwards. Overnight in Yerevan. (B, D)

After breakfast, we’ll take a trip to Khor Virap Monastery, which dates from the 4th century.  The importance of this monastery is tied in with Gregory the Illuminator, who introduced Christianity in Armenia. Here you can enjoy a spectacular view of the sacred Ararat Mountain - an immortal symbol of Armenia. Then we will continue the tour to Noravank, a twelfth century monastery situated on a ledge within the sheer cliff face of a meandering gorge. Moving on, you’ll visit Areni village for a wine tasting. Next, we drive to Goris, where we will have a beautiful excursion to the ancient Tatev Monastery. To reach it, we’ll need to ride the world’s longest non-stop reversible cable car. Tatev Monastery, which dates from the 9th century, is a former centre for the sciences and the arts and today the complex consists of three churches, a refectory, a library, a vault and several residences. Magnificent canyons surround the monastery. Overnight in Goris. (B, D)

Today, following breakfast, we’ll travel to Sevan via the Selim Pass, through which the Great Silk Road passed. We’ll stop at Selim Caravanserai, built in the 14th century to accommodate weary travellers and their animals as they crossed from, or into, the mountainous Vayots Dzor region. Overnight in Yerevan. (B, D)

After breakfast, we’ll take a trip to Garni. You will walk along the canyon, past the beautiful columnar basalt 9th century stone bridge over the Azat River to Garni the Pagan Temple. This temple was built in the 1st century AD, but in 1679 it was destroyed by an earthquake. In 1975 the temple was restored. Next, we’ll head to Geghard Monastery, whose name came from the legendary lance that was used to pierce the body of Christ, and which was kept here for centuries. Though the exact foundation of the monastery is unknown, the present complex was built in the mid 13th century. Afterwards you’ll pay a visit to a local house where you will have the chance to see and participate in the preparation of the Armenian bread, lavash, before heading back to Yerevan. Overnight in Yerevan. (B, D)

After breakfast at the hotel, you’ll be collected for your return transfer to the airport. (B)